Kathakaars was founded by Sayali Goswami, and our approach is shaped by the gurus whose tradition she carries — and by the teachers who bring it into the room every week.
Founder & Artistic Director
Sayali Goswami
Gandabandh disciple of Guru Pandita Uma Dogra ji · Jaipur Gharana · carrying forward the legacy of Pandit Durgalal ji
Sayali Goswami is an Indian classical Kathak dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Founder and Artistic Director of Kathakaars School of Dance in the San Francisco Bay Area. A Gandabandh disciple of Guru Pandita Uma Dogra ji, she belongs to the Jaipur Gharana and carries forward the artistic legacy of Pandit Durgalal ji.
Training & Recognition
Two decades in motion
With over two decades of training, performance, choreography, and teaching,
Sayali has become a passionate advocate for Indian classical dance in both India
and the United States. She holds a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts (Kathak)
from the Samved School of Kathak and Society for Performing Arts, and a Kovid
Diploma in Bharatanatyam from Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai — formal
training across two of India’s foremost classical dance traditions.
Since 2020 she has been a member of the International Dance Council
(CID — UNESCO), the official partner for dance, and holds the Singar Mani
title conferred by Sur Singar Sansad, Mumbai, in recognition of her artistic
excellence.
On Stage
A performing career across two countries
Sayali has performed as both a soloist and an ensemble artist at festivals and
cultural institutions including the Konark Dance Festival, the Khajuraho Dance
Festival, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, and the
ICCR Japan Tour with Guru Pandita Uma Dogra ji.
In the United States she has performed for Sanskriti, the Shruti Foundation
(Tampa, Florida), Kalpana, Yuvabharati, and Kathak Utsav.
From 2013 to 2018 she mentored Stanford University’s Noopur Indian Classical
Dance Team, training students in Kathak while conceptualising, choreographing,
and mentoring several dance productions.
Founding Kathakaars
A vision to preserve and share Kathak
Inspired by a vision to preserve and share the beauty of Kathak, Sayali founded
Kathakaars School of Dance, where she trains students of all ages in the Jaipur
Gharana tradition with an emphasis on technical excellence, rhythmic precision,
expressive storytelling, and artistic integrity.
As Artistic Director she has conceptualised, choreographed, and directed original
productions including Dancing with Shiva and Anusriti — A Mindful
Continuation. Under her leadership Kathakaars has presented ensemble work at
theatres, cultural festivals, temples, educational institutions, and community
events across California.
Through workshops, lecture demonstrations, community performances, and
collaborations with cultural organisations, she works to make Indian classical
dance accessible to audiences of all backgrounds. The City of Milpitas,
California has honoured her with a Certificate of Commendation for her
contribution to cultural enrichment through dance.
Kathak is more than a classical dance form — it is a living tradition that connects history, music, storytelling, and human expression.
Sayali Goswami
Guru–Shishya Parampara
The teachers behind our teaching
Pandita Uma Dogra ji
Born in New Delhi in 1957, Pandita Uma Dogra ji trained first at Kathak Kendra before becoming the senior-most Ganda Bandh disciple of Pandit Durga Lal ji of the Jaipur Gharana. Across a performing career of more than four decades she has been honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2014) and the Maharashtra Gaurav Samman. In 1990 she founded Samved, which continues to run the annual Pandit Durgalal Festival.
Pandit Durga Lal ji
Born in 1948 in Mahendragarh, Rajasthan, Pandit Durga Lal ji became one of the defining voices of Jaipur Gharana Kathak — celebrated for his footwork, his command of rhythm, and his abilities as a singer and pakhawaj player. He taught for years at Kathak Kendra in New Delhi and led the title role in the 1989 dance drama Ghanashyam, with music by Pandit Ravi Shankar. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984.
Our teachers
Sayali Goswami
Founder & Artistic Director
Sayali Goswami is a Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator, and the founder
of Kathakaars School of Dance. A Gandabandh disciple of Guru Pandita Uma Dogra ji,
she belongs to the Jaipur Gharana and carries forward the legacy of Pandit
Durgalal ji.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts (Kathak) from the Samved School of
Kathak and Society for Performing Arts, and a Kovid Diploma in Bharatanatyam from
Nalanda Nritya Kala
Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai. Since 2020 she has been a member of the International
Dance Council (CID — UNESCO), the official partner for dance, and holds the
Singar Mani title conferred by Sur Singar Sansad, Mumbai.
From 2013 to 2018 she mentored Stanford University’s Noopur Indian Classical
Dance Team. The City of Milpitas has recognised her with a Certificate of
Commendation for her contribution to cultural enrichment through dance.
Pooja Khandelwal
San Ramon Location Coordinator & Volunteer Teacher
Pooja Khandelwal is a Kathak dancer and senior member of the Kathakaars Dance
Ensemble. She has trained in the Jaipur Gharana tradition for eight years under
Smt. Sayali Shetye Goswami and Pandita Uma Dogra ji.
She has performed with the Kathakaars ensemble at National Dance Day at Grace
Cathedral in San Francisco, the Oakland Dance Festival, the Marathi Mandal Bay
Area Dance and Music Festival, the Margazhi Dance Festival, the Around the World
Arts and Music Festival in Sunnyvale, the Arts and Music Festival 2025 in San
Mateo County, and the EKA Solo Dance Festival.
Her dancing reflects strong foundational training, rhythmic clarity, and a
growing depth of expression shaped by the Guru–Shishya parampara. She volunteers
her time as a teacher at our San Ramon location.
Class times & pricingChildren and adults · all levels
